CRUNCH DUEL WITH AMERKS
 
The Syracuse Crunch play their fourth game in seven days when they host the Rochester Americans tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
It's the third of 12 head-to-head matches this season. It's also the third game in three weeks between the clubs, and the teams have split the first two games. The home team has won both contests, including last Saturday's 4-2 Crunch win.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE
 
Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:45 p.m.
Streaming: Pay-to-watch video via AHLTV on FloHockey | www.syracusecrunch.com/watch
Radio: ESPN Radio Syracuse | www.espncny.com
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Crunch were bested by the Laval Rocket, 5-1, Wednesday at Place Bell. It was the Crunch's final visit this season to Laval, and they finish with a 1-2-0-0 road record against the Rocket.
 
Syracuse opened the scoring in the final minute of the first period. On a delayed penalty, Brendan Furry whipped a one-timer toward that net that was steered home at the back post by Sam O'Reilly. It was O'Reilly's second goal of the season.
 
The Rocket answered with a pair of goals in the second frame. Reilly Walsh tied the game with a 4-on-4 goal at 4:53 of the period and Sasha Pastujov blasted a one-timer for a power-play goal to make it 2-1.
 
Laval potted three more in the third period, including an empty-net tally, to make it a 5-1 final. Syracuse was held to 15 shots. They have mustered only 34 total shots in the last two games.
 
PELLETIER HITS 300 GAMES 
 
Jakob Pelletier skated in his 300th career game Wednesday at Laval. The 25-year-old has played in 201 AHL and 91 NHL games across a six-year career. 
 
The Calgary Flames drafted Pelletier with the 26th pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. The Quebec City native played 200 games in the Flames organization, 61 with the Flames and 139 for their AHL affiliate. Pelletier was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in January 2025 and scored eight points (3g, 5a) across 25 games.
 
The forward signed a three-year contract with the Lightning in 2025. Pelletier has since appeared in five games with Tampa Bay and 70 with Syracuse. He won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the AHL's scoring champion with 77 points in 63 games last season.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS 
 
Last time the Crunch met the Americans, special teams was the deciding factor. The Crunch tallied two power-play goals and a game-winning shorthanded goal en route to picking up their first home win of the season. Syracuse has notched five power-play goals this season, ranking 17th in the AHL at 18.5%. On the defensive side, the Crunch's penalty kill percentage sits at 73.5%. They have allowed at least one power-play goal in five of their seven games this season, and they have allowed four in 11 chances versus Rochester.
 
SCOUTING THE AMERICANS
 
After starting the season 2-0-0-1, the Amerks have gone 1-3-0-0 in their last four games. That includes their 4-2 loss in Syracuse last week. Rochester is 3-3-0-1 overall and is in sixth place in the North Division.
 
The Amerks' hold significant scoring depth. Three skaters lead the team with seven points, while four are tied for the team lead with three goals. They have scored nine goals in two games against the Crunch, led by Jason Polin (2g, 2a) and Conor Sheary (4a), who have four points apiece.
 
Goaltender Matthew Villalta has started six of Rochester's first seven games. The Kingston, Ontario native held the Crunch to one goal in his only previous start versus Syracuse (Oct. 9). The 2024 AHL All-Star posts a 1.85 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. Wednesday's loss to Utica was his first start allowing more than two goals this season.